Taiwan students, teachers to camp at Spratlys

 News
Feb 042013
 
Taiwan students, teachers to camp at Spratlys

Some 40 students and teachers from Taiwan will go on a camping trip to the disputed Spratly Islands, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported Monday night. The CNA report quoted the Ministry of National Defense as saying the 40 will include 10-member teams from four universities. It also said the students will send postcards upon arriving on the island to “assert Taiwan’s sovereignty over the Spratlys.” Each team will have one professor and nine graduate and doctoral students below 40 years old. However, the CNA report said the ministry declined to say when the camping will be held, due to “security concerns.” The CNA report said this will be the third year the defense ministry is organizing such a camp, with this year’s program focusing on the “history of the South China Sea, maritime law and marine ecology.” Taiwan is one of six claimants to the Spratlys, the others being the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. —KG, GMA News

Filipino more money-wise than before – survey

 Economy
Feb 042013
 
Filipino more money-wise than before - survey

MANILA, Philippines – More Filipinos are becoming wiser in their finances, according to a survey commissioned by Citibank Philippines. Results of the annual Citi Fin-Q survey showed that among 500 Filipino respondents, nine out of 10 said they create a budget on a monthly basis, while 65 percent said it is important to stick to their budget. Eight out of 10 also said they own insurance products or own insurance protection, while 63 percent said they are on track with their retirement savings or had already set aside some savings for it. Citi added that among those surveyed, six out of 10 said they are aware of their net worth. The survey said more Filipinos now understand the value of budgeting and planning their finances, as respondents passed the 50-point mark and scored 53 out of 100 in the survey. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Respondent in the survey were scored on 11 questions about financial well-being, with a maximum possible score of 100. “The improved score was driven by increased awareness among respondents of the importance of planning personal finances, ownership of several financial products such as investments and insurance, and a general optimism on their financial future,” Citi said. Meanwhile, across Asia Pacific, the survey noted that the score was above the 50-point mark at 53.2 points. Sixty-seven percent added that they are optimistic about their financial futures. In terms of savings, 44 percent said they set aside or save money every time they Read More …

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